64-1 EELS IN WATER PIPES AND THEIR MIGRATION. — BISHOP. 



It is likely, therefore, that nearly all the eels in the vicinity of 

 tlie trap Avere caught, and that thej were scarce abont the gate- 

 honse until the few which were not in the first run had found 

 their way to the intake. It has also l)een shown that nearly all 

 the eels taken in the early spring were small, probably one year 

 old, and during their earlier life had remained in the lakes 

 nearer the sea. 



The lakes in question being so far from the sea, and the 

 outlet from them passing through other lakes in its course, it 

 does not appear necessary that they should make the entire 

 jouniey the firbt year. 



What confirms me in this belief is, that several years ago I 

 saw during the spring, at the head of the tide waters of the Corn- 

 wallis river, in King's (^ounty, ]S[. S., ma'ny thousands of small 

 eels working their way up the stream in the shallow water at 

 each side of the river. These Avere certainly not more than two 

 and a half to three inches long. To form an idea of the great 

 numbers passing along I judged that there was o'ne hundred or 

 perhaps more in a space of two feet. 



This stream of eels was continuous without a break as far 

 as they could be seen each Avay. It can readily be seen that 

 A^ast quantities Avere finding their Avay to the spacious still 

 waters in the meadows about half a mile further \i]) the stream. 

 Unfortu'natel'y, I cannot giv(> the exact date on which this 

 observation Avas made. 



I am of the opinion that the first catches in the spring, 

 Avhicb were nearly all of small size, liad just reached the lake 

 by way of the stream, and being naturally somewhat tired, had 

 settled in the deep water to rest, and liad tims found their way 

 into the trap at the intake wbich was only about one hundred 

 feet from where they entered the lake. A subsequent experi- 

 ment, which is explained later, proved the foregoing assumption 

 to be correct. 



On April 19th, 1905, the eel trap was agaiji put in place in 

 the ii'ate-house, and when visited on Mav 9th it cjntained one 



